Why take 10-15 minutes on something you can do in less time, with the same outcome? Time has value. And this is why Wiscasset selectmen's introduction of a consent agenda has made our latest list of six good things in 2026 in or near Wiscasset.

We last gave a list at April's end, so this will be a May-June installment, a little early on the June part because more good could still happen, but anything after this can roll into our next installment. Coverage of the middle high school incident and its repercussions has rightly taken much time, amid the busy election, graduation and event seasons; and residents, by 12 votes, have rejected the school budget, restarting that process. So we are getting in this installment while we can. 

Back to the consent agenda. These are old hat in town and school governments elsewhere; "housekeeping" items such as meeting minutes, payroll and other things that do not regularly draw debate get taken for a vote together. And if something needs to be talked about, it can be pulled from the consent agenda and be taken up separately.

Kudos, Wiscasset selectboard, for valuing your and your meeting-goers' time.

And then we have something Wiscasset School Department meant to do about six years ago, and is now following through on: Naming a sports field after longtime employee Jeff Speed. The sign, bound for the soccer field, looks really nice. 

Alna's getting going on its community garden for another year. It grows food, flowers and community caring and spirit.

Kudos to St. Philip's Episcopal Church for being one of the many in Maine and beyond who are staying open and keeping up with outreach, in St. Philip's case, extensive outreach, with food, school supplies and more, while also striving to fix up the church. Have a great 72nd year of the Strawberry Festival, St. Philip's.

And yay, Wiscasset Wormfest! This year's included a road race; and Wormfest's scholarships for students are going strong. I hope I haven't used this pun before, but Wormfest has legs! Meaning it's an  event that looks like it is here for the long haul, like the Strawberry Festival.

Rounding out these six good things is Wiscasset Police Department's May 29 reminder for residents on how to not attract bears. A Facebook post, after a reported sighting at a Gibbs Road home, read in part: "The game wardens advised that bears typically look for quick outside food sources, such as bird feeders, and if they do not locate one, they quickly move on. If you live in the surrounding area, you may want to take down feeders, put away bbq grills, etc. If you see anything, stay away and call dispatch. 207-882-8202."

Week's positive parting thought: People and bears are in each other's worlds. Advice like the above post can help keep things uneventful.